I’m so happy I picked up this book. The whole reading experience felt like a therapy session. It was a timely topic induced with real-life experiences, relevant sources, and psychological expertise. I initially thought my shallow understanding of toxic productivity would be addressed in here and I wondered what’s in store for me. I was wrong. It was a guidebook for life— to help you find and save yourself in your chaos. I’m so thankful for everything this book had taught me. This could serve as one of the instruments that can guide you in your self-discovery journey.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, and the author, Israa Nasir for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you to PESI Publishing | Bridge City Books, NetGalley, and Israa Nasir for this eARC of Toxic Productivity.

As an educational leader tasked with the wellbeing of teachers, students, and school communities at large, I found Toxic Productivity to effectively balance empowering the reader vs blaming the victim; establishing ownership over one's time/emotional space/joy vs casting aspersions at society; informing & entertaining the reader vs leaving readers slack-jawed and bored.

Well done and well worth a read for anyone who lives in a capitalist society, or really anywhere.

Toxic Productivity: Reclaim Your Time and Emotional Energy in a World That Always Demands More addresses the pervasive issue of hustle culture and its detrimental effects on mental health and personal fulfillment. The book aims to redefine productivity by emphasizing that it is not merely a time-management issue, but fundamentally an emotional management issue. Nasir argues that the relentless pursuit of achievement can lead to burnout and dissatisfaction, as individuals often chase societal markers of success without aligning them with their true values and desires.

The book focuses on:
Emotional Patterns: The book explores how emotional drivers such as self-worth, shame, and perfectionism contribute to toxic productivity habits. Nasir provides insights into recognizing these patterns and their impact on well-being.
Sustainable Habits: It offers guidance on cultivating healthier perspectives on achievement and creating sustainable habits that align with personal values rather than external expectations.
Reclaiming Time and Joy: Nasir encourages readers to untangle themselves from the demands of hustle culture, aiming for a life that is not just productive but also meaningful and joyful.

In a world increasingly obsessed with achievement, Toxic Productivity serves as a timely reminder to prioritize emotional well-being over relentless productivity. It invites readers to reflect on their motivations and redefine success in a way that fosters genuine fulfillment.

Although I don’t usually read self help books I really enjoyed this one. It made me see my habits in a different way. It was so simple but such an important reminder that your habits, just like everything in the world, aren’t simple to be put in good/healthy/white and bad/destructive/black boxes. There were many things in the book that I didn’t relate to but the advice seemed good, I think. Like I said, I couldn’t relate so I can’t really say if the advice is good or not. However, when I could relate to certain chapters, I felt clarity. It’s really well written and I would 100% recommend it.

This was a great read! I liked the calling out of burnout and how to stop that cycle. I think it was an engaging read, and it had a lot of info, tips and tricks, and research backed info. I liked it!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

I only wish that I had read this book twenty years ago when I was furiously racing through a million-item to do list because I had been told by everyone in my life that my worth was dependent on how much I got done. This book is so needed in our current day and age, when we're all anxious about how much we can cram into a day. It helped me recover from burnout and make an easier path.

Lots to love about this book. It is the perfect book for those who read too many self-help books (ahem, me) and need a reality check. Many books of this genre could be defined as "toxic productivity."

I think this book is great because it explains the problem (defines the issues) and then offers a realistic alternative approach, Thanks for the advance review copy.

This book feels like it was written for me.
And now I know how to name the thing I hate out there the most lately. TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY.
If you too happen to be a mandatory extreme capitalism productivity hater like me (turns out, I am!), then you need to read this. This was such a validating read for those who are like me. You can still be productive (and there are steps, and suggestions, and ideas, and everything) and not be stuck in the toxic rut.

This book provided some very interesting tips and strategies for being more productive while avoiding stress and burnout. I feel this is a very valuable skill set for students of this generation to learn and adapt to.

Thank you Netgalley for the prepub! I'm a mental health therapist, and I really enjoyed this book for my clients (and, ahem, myself). A very informative look at why we fall into the toxic productivity trap (society, upbringing, self worth and value), along with helpful exercises to challenge those patterns.

I received a free eBook version of this title from NetGalley for review, and halfway through, I pre-ordered the hardcover edition because I know this is a book I will reference again and again. Toxic productivity can be driven by multiple factors like childhood experiences and societal expectations, but our culture tends to promote it as the key to success. An entire generation of burned out individuals are coming to realize the negative impact of placing this type of pressure on ourselves, but what's baffling is that many of us actively participate in self-care activities designed to combat the grind and still can't figure out why we're not feeling more rested and productive. Through Nasir's guidance, we can identify why these activities actually make things worse and what we can do to truly nourish ourselves and make effective progress towards our goals at the same time.

Nasir speaks from a place of experience, as she herself began a pattern of toxic productivity in childhood to combat her perceived inadequacies as an immigrant. Through experiencing burnout, she was able to recognize the mindset that was thwarting her ability to cope and take steps to reverse course. As she relates, even as she was writing this book she returned to some of her own self-defeating patterns and had to steer back onto the right path.

Nasir uses patient encounters to confirm that we are not alone in this challenge and it's quite common. For anyone who considers themselves driven and self-motivated but has felt like they are spinning their wheels, can never be enough, or may have lost interest in the things that once invigorated them, Nasir's prompts for internal reflection will be invaluable. We can step back and observe our lives from a distance and decide if our goals align with our values, and if so, what steps will allow us to realize those goals without compromising our physical health and mental wellness. Society needs this book right now to balance out the hustle culture that pervades our daily lives.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley.

I saw this book on Netgalley at the right time while I was struggling with burnout and decided to request it. I am really glad I picked it up as it was full of helpful information and felt encouraging and inspiring. I liked how the author addressed toxic productivity and shared multiple techniques on how to address your toxic productivity thoughts as well as figure out where it came from.

Every chapter has it's own focus for something can can cause toxic productivity and had a summary at the end as well as some exercises you could do yourself. I liked this structure and it made it easy to read. There are also some stories of clients throughout the book which can help give insight into toxic productivity and it was inspiring to see how they dealt with things.

To summarize: I felt like I got a lot out of this book. It made me think and evaluate my own thoughts regarding productivity and where some of my toxic thoughts came from. I liked the encouraging and inspiring tone of the book. I am glad I read it and might re-read in the future even. I thought the book was informative and had a lot of great information. It was structured in a way that made it easy to read. I can definitely recommend this one!

Well, this is one of the rare cases when a self-help book actually surprised and amazed me!

First of all, it’s easy and well-written, yet not boring. The author keeps your attention well enough and the overall structure is greats

Second, it’s really relatable and sometimes… too personal? Like okay, I know it, stop calling me in that 😅. But is what makes this book so great!

Lastly, I want this book I paper and I want it translated into Ukrainian!

Overall, thanks to #netgalley for providing me with this opportunity! Kudos to the author and publisher - for bringing a good book to the market

Israa Nasir's "Toxic Productivity" is a must-read for workaholics looking to break free from the burnout cycle. Nasir's relatable and insightful writing makes it easy to see how our obsession with constant productivity can harm our well-being. With practical tips and personal anecdotes, she guides readers toward a healthier balance between work and life. If you're tired of feeling overwhelmed and want to reclaim your time and energy, this book is the perfect guide to help you do just that. Highly recommended for anyone who needs a reminder that it's okay to slow down and take care of themselves.

We need more of this in today's culture and environment, just to remind us what is important and worth to be achieved.

Recently I was struggling with this persistent feeling of failure. This feeling that I wasn't doing enough or being productive enough every day so I really appreciate this book. It really shows how you can gain a healthier idea of what achievement is and what achievements you actually want rather than what society expects and then how you can reach goals that actually mean something to you without sacrificing your wellbeing.
Perfect for anyone who feels they aren't productive enough, aren't meeting societal standards or anyone who experiences burnout.